J-POWER

J-POWER, which is the trading name for Electric Power Development Co., is a power utility which is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. J-POWER is the sixth largest energy utility in Japan, with a total of 16,380 megawatts (MW) generation capacity. Of this generation capacity, 8,556MW is from hydro assets and 7,825 MW from both gas and coal fired thermal power stations.

J-POWER also has interests in 17 power projects around the world - fueled by gas, coal, hydro and biomass -- in the USA, the Philippines, China, Thailand and Taiwan. J-POWER also has investments in four Australian coal mines.

Greenhouse gas emissions
J-POWER states that in 2008 the company's total greenhouse gas emissions from both its Japanese and overseas power projects amounted to 50.22 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, up from 24.67 million tonnes in 1991.

J-POWER is also involved in a total of five power projects in Chile, Columbia and Brazil which have been registered with the Executive Broad of the Clean Development Mechanism.

Coal power stations in Japan
J-POWER owns and operates a fleet of seven coal-fired power stations in Japan. These are:
 * the Isogo power station comprising two 600MW units, the New No 1 was commissioned in March 2002 and the New No 2 is currently under construction and scheduled to be commissioned in 2010/2011.
 * the Takehara power station comprising three units; the 250MW unit no 1 was commissioned in July 1967; the 350MW No 2 was converted from being an oil-fired power station to coal and re-commissioned in June 1995; and the 700MW No 3 which was commissioned in March 1983;
 * the Tachibanawan power station comprising two 1050MW units which were commissioned in July 2000 and December 2000 respectively;
 * the Matsushima power station comprising two 500MW units which were commissioned in January 1981 and June 1981 respectively;
 * the Matsuura power station comprising two 1,000MW units which were commissioned in June 1990 and July 1997 respectively;
 * the Ishikawa power station comprising two 250MW units which were commissioned in November 1986 and March 1987 respectively.

Coal power stations in the United States

 * J-POWER has a 49.5% stake in the Birchwood Power Facility near King George, Virginia. (The other joint venture partner in the project is General Electric).

Coal power stations in China

 * J-POWER has a 24% stake in the 50 MW Tianshi power station in China.
 * J-POWER has a 10% interest in the 1,320 megawatt Xinchang power station which is currently under construction.

Australian coal mines
J-POWER has :
 * a 10% stake in the Blair Athol coal mine in Queensland;
 * a 10% stake in the Ensham coal mine in Queensland;
 * a 15% stake in the Clermont coal mine in Queensland; and
 * a 7.5% stake in the Narrabri coal mine in Queensland.

Contact details
15-1,Ginza 6-Chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo,104-8165 Japan Phone: 03-3546-2211 Fax 03-3546-9532 Website: http://www.jpower.co.jp/english/index.html

Related SourceWatch Articles

 * Existing U.S. Coal Plants
 * Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan
 * Virginia and coal
 * United States and coal
 * Global warming